The City of Eufaula is taking a major step toward shaping its long-term future by launching the recruitment for its first-ever City Planner, a move that city leaders believe is vital to supporting responsible growth and enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors alike.

City Manager Jacob Foos initiated the discussion in early December, highlighting how increased development pressures, a growing population during tourism season, and the city’s ambitious planning goals have created the need for a dedicated professional to lead Eufaula’s land use and development efforts.

Unlike the City Manager, who oversees day-to-day operations, supervises all departments, manages budgets, and responds to immediate administrative needs, the City Planner will take a long-range view, focusing on growth strategy, land use planning, zoning, and public engagement. This new role is crucial to developing Eufaula’s first-ever Comprehensive Plan, a blueprint for the city’s growth through 2050.

Foos explained that the Executive Assistant to the City Manager has, until now, handled a bulk of the city’s zoning and planning administration, including managing applications, coordinating public hearings, and preparing meeting agendas. However, with the increasing complexity of zoning regulations and the legal sensitivity of these tasks, the city recognizes the need for a specialized professional.

“Errors in zoning processes can lead to lawsuits or overturned decisions,” the justification document notes. “A City Planner provides technical expertise and accountability that ensures legal compliance and reduces exposure.”

The timing is critical. Eufaula is already partnering with planning consultants Freese and Nichols, Inc. to develop a Comprehensive Plan and eventually transition into a Unified Development Code (UDC). The City Planner will be responsible not only for supporting this planning effort through its 2027 completion but also for implementing its recommendations, helping shape everything from future infrastructure investments to the design of new neighborhoods.

Beyond technical compliance, the planner will be a key community voice, engaging residents, developers, and stakeholders in discussions about the city’s growth, infrastructure needs, and community priorities. This work will ensure the city grows in a way that reflects local values while preserving its charm and lakeside character.

Financially, the role will be funded using existing budget allocations made available by a vacant parks maintenance position. The estimated full cost of the position, including salary, retirement, taxes, and health benefit, is approximately $95,000 annually. For the current fiscal year, the city anticipates a partial cost of $45,000, which can be absorbed within the current budget without requiring new funding.

Eufaula, with its high seasonal influx, development pressure, and Comprehensive Plan goals, make it comparable to cities that either have full-time planners or similar staffing through regional support.

Given its growth, Eufaula is at a tipping point where in-house planning staff is a logical next step, both to protect legal compliance and to shape future land use intentionally.

WhiletheCityManager will continue to oversee daily governance, the new City Planner will shape the city’s vision for the next several decades. It’s a forward-thinking move that demonstrates Eufaula’s commitment to intentional, communitydriven growth.